Mourn the Wicked: Part One

“Glinda! Is it true that you were her friend?”

Well, I may not be Glinda the Good Witch of the North, but yes, the rumors were true. Hello, and welcome again to Myths and Mischief, where we delve into history’s greatest secrets or legendary topics to entertain you, our lovely audience. This is your friendly neighborhood swamp witch, Jeri, and today we are going to deep dive into the beloved musical movie sensation that is “Wicked: Part 1”.

With people clamoring for the sequel, “Wicked: For Good” (coming out in November, how could five months feel so long? 😭), I thought we might take a break and go through this masterpiece of a stage musical turned Hollywood film. Personally, I think this is one of the most successful stage-to-silver screen translations (*cough cough* “Rent” *cough cough*), but many theatre kids can agree that the touch of Hollywood helped this diamond shine even brighter. So, let’s get to the fun part and start breaking it down.

Fair warning: This will be a three-part series. 

Part 1: No One Mourns the Wicked

This 2024 musical fantasy film Wicked: Part 1 was directed by Jon M. Chu, the screenplay was written by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox based off of Stephen Schwartz and Holzman’s 2003 stage musical, which was based largely on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, which, in turn, was a reinterpretation of L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its 1939 film adaptation.

First and foremost, pay close attention to the horse and rider fleeing from the mysteriously dark and foreboding castle. This is important for “Wicked: For Good”.

If you look around Munchkinland, you’ll see lush fields of colorful flowers, like the tulip fields (rivaling the fields of Keukenhof in Lisse, Netherlands). You’ll also see plenty of large water-holding receptacles in a town that seems gripped with fear. Enter a group of giddy children, all running to the town center to ring the town center with good news: The second Wicked Witch, the Witch of the West, is dead. Now, it can be argued that this may or may not be the lovely little town in which Dorothy began her adventure in Oz, but it is still a country freed from first the Wicked Witch of the East (who wasn’t really a ‘witch’ to begin with, but we’ll get to that later).

However, it now seems that the realm is free of both perceived evils. And who comes to confirm this? Why, if it isn’t Glinda, the Good Witch of the North (which is a book inaccuracy. Glinda was originally the Good Witch of the South, but hey, they are using the 1939 beloved movie classic ‘The Wizard of Oz’ as their source material for this), traveling in her trademarked bubble and met with the jubilation and devotion of the people. As she lands, the Munchkinlanders break out into song and celebration. 

Then, as Glinda ascends towards her bubble again, a Munchkin child asks a simple, yet existential question, one that many would find ‘confusifying’. 

“How does wickedness happen?”

Glinda answers a question with another: “Are people born wicked? Or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?” It is a simple sentiment, unraveled in a tale of a Munchkinlander (who just so happened to be the Governor) and his wife. They are Mr. and Mrs. Thropp. As Governor Thropp goes to the assembly one night, he leaves his wife alone to her own devices, and she is met by one mysterious and charismatic salesman selling his ‘green elixir’. Now, it is important here that I should mention to any who don’t know the stage musical, 👏pay attention to his voice👏. This is important, guys, gals, and non-binary pals, because one thing leads to another (as it so often does), and baby Elphaba is born to the Thropp family, green as the bottle of elixir her mother consumed. 

She is rejected by her father immediately, but her nursemaid, an Animal (yes, the capital is essential here), a bear named Dulcibear, took tender care of her. Now, this is a pivotal moment — even as a newborn, because 1. Elphaba exhibited strong supernatural powers linked to her emotions, and 2. She was rejected by humans, but accepted by Animals. The song continues to highlight the struggles of her growth being so different from everyone else, and highlighting her heart’s deepest desire: to meet the Mysterious and Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Now, after the flashback, the Munchkinlanders continue their impromptu (but well-choreographed) celebration, going so far as to bring out an effigy of the Wicked Witch for them to burn (which they apparently had on hand already), handing a very conflicted-looking Glinda the torch to throw into the pyre.

There is real pain in Glinda’s eyes, deep and aching pain, but the song and dance continue. Now, it is worth noting that Kristen Chenoweth, the original Broadway actress who played the role, has been heard commenting that the higher Glinda’s voice goes, the further from the truth she is… Hmmm… food for thought.

Now, our journey takes us back to our original question.

“Glinda. Is it true you were her friend?”

Naaaaaaah, no. Why would anyone think that? But, Glinda goes on to regale a tale of her past, when she knew the Wicked Witch before she became the Witch that was known and feared.

Part 2: Dear Old Shiz

Shiz University, one of the land of Oz’s premier institutions of learning, is where we journey next. Our storyteller is met with excitement as she meets Boq Woodsman (hmmm… ‘Woodsman’, eh?), a Munchkin from Munckinland, and her two best friends, Shenshen and Pfannee.

While everyone is busy preparing for their arrival at Shiz, another boat enters the picture, and we get to see Elphaba make her entrance, older, calmer, and accustomed to the shock she receives for her appearance. If you look at one of the boys, he is actually carrying one of the canonical books of the series, “The Marvelous Land of Oz”. Cute little Easter Egg!

“No, I am not seasick. No, I did not eat grass as a child. And, yes, I have always been green.”

Galinda (with a “Gah”) offers to help her with her perceived “problem”, and Elphaba is having none of it. Now, this is one of the many microaggressions against characters that are “different” in Oz. For those of you new to the game, a microaggression, as defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary, is “a comment or action that subtly and often unconsciously or unintentionally expresses a prejudiced attitude toward a member of a marginalized group (such as a racial minority)”. Good for you for seeing through it, Elphie!

Enter Nessarose, Elphaba’s younger, doted-on sister, and a father who still resents Elphaba. Nessa is gifted something very, very important to our story. Recognize these bad boys?

In the original story written by Baum, Dorothy traveled in silver shoes, not the ruby slippers with which we are all so familiar and associate with this beloved classic. (For those who don’t know, the slippers were chosen to be ruby slippers in the 1939 classic instead of the book’s silver slippers so they could stand out in the Technicolor, a small creative choice that enhanced an already fantastical setting.)

Ever the protective father of his favored child, Governor Thropp sends Elphaba to follow her sister into Shiz, who was allowed to enter the university, whereas Elphaba herself was not afforded the same opportunity.

With professors such as the Animal, Dr. Dillamond, and Professor Mombi of the Biological Arts— 

Hold up, let’s pause here to dissect this really quickly. This is where we begin to explore some of the other source materials that have been created over the years. Mombi was originally a hag from L. Frank Baum’s second book in the canonical ‘Oz’ series (“The Marvelous Land of Oz”, 1904). She was presented as a villain who kept the Princess of Oz, Ozma, hidden away in order to prevent Ozma from inheriting the throne. Strange, though, isn’t it, how the Wizard is in charge in the Emerald City? And there isn’t a single mention of Ozma in the 1939 beloved classic, nor in the 2024 smash hit “Wicked: Part One”, unless, of course, some of you were paying attention and looking at Dr. Dillamond’s board during their history class later on.

Now, this could be tied to Disney’s 1985 “Return to Oz”, where that particular incarnation of Mombi was a combination of Mombi and the head-exchanging Princess Langwidere (who was introduced in 1907’s “Ozma of Oz”). Biological arts, huh? Funny twist.

I digress, though. After the speaker introduces Mombi and Dr. Dillamond, we see the entrance of another important character: the Dean of Sorcery, Madame Morrible. She is met with applause and awe. And it seems that Galinda is intending to become her student. But she is shot down (gently, the first time. Don’t worry, there will be another attempt) by the sorceress.  

Enter one Miss Coddle, head Shizstress, and her backhanded compliments for Nessarose. “Oh, how tragically beautiful you are.”

When she comes face to face with Elphaba, though, her bravado fails and she becomes panicked, and lets her comments on Elphaba’s differences slip out, claiming a slight ‘gulch’ in the process (another fun Easter Egg, if anyone remembers Almira Gulch).

Ms. Coddle tries to push her services onto Nessarose, who is having none of it; Elphaba, ever protective of her little sister, finds the magic inside her exploding, revealing much more beneath the surface of Shiz, quite literally.

Now, is this a subtle commentary on Elphaba’s connection and empathy for the plight of Animals in Oz? Who can say for sure? But it is very suspect, don’t you agree?

Part 3: The Wizard and I

Here is a brief overview of the song. Madame Morrible sees Elphaba and is the first person to truly see her beyond her skin color. Madame Morrible sees her potential, which is something Elphaba has desperately craved. Elphaba breaks out into song, as Morrible has offered the possibility of granting Elphaba’s wish of meeting the Wizard.

What follows is a beautiful rendition of Elphaba day-dreaming of how her life would change being at the Wizard’s side, including but not limited to: de-greenifying her, and getting the admiration of those in Oz instead of their scorn. There is a wonderful play on color theory and lighting in this scene, as Elphaba is ‘de-greenified’ by the use of canceling out the green with red lights and glass in the scene.

She finds herself in a hidden alcove, receiving the first of several ‘prophecies’ she experiences. Then, beyond the alcove, lies a field in which she sets herself really free, running and singing her heart out, something she had been forced to hold inside for so long.

Part 4: What is this Feeling?

I will briefly touch on this scene, as everyone loves the song: Elphaba and Glinda become roommates due to a misunderstanding with Madame Morrible, and must learn to live together. Glinda, who was “promised a private suite”, gives Elphaba only a tiny bit of space, paralleling the fact that Elphaba has had to make herself small her entire life without complaint, with Galinda going so far as to leave a sign saying ‘It’s Great’ on the bed.

The pragmatic Elphaba and the dramatic Galinda are unhappy with the situation, writing home to express their dismay.

The song follows Galinda getting the student body’s sympathy for rooming with “someone so disgusticified”, and it sees the two going through different activities where they are tit for tat. It’s a cute scene that highlights their growing relationship.

Part 5: Something Bad

But under the surface, something is brewing in Oz. Animals (capitalized because they possess the sentience of humans) are going missing or leaving Oz altogether. In a history class, Professor Dillamond tries to explain the changes Oz faces, only to be met by a grim sight when he turns his chalkboard around:

Unnerved, the professor dismisses the class, and Elphaba stays to help him clean up, where we hear that poppies are her favorite flower. (Another Easter egg to the 1939 classic!)

Afterward, she has sorcery lessons with Madame Morrible, trying to learn how to control her power. As her powers are tied to strong emotions, she finds herself unsettled by the “horrendible” words left on the chalkboard. In her anger and passion of stating that no one should be treated horribly for being different, and no one should be told to be kept quiet, her power bursts, sending the coin she was practicing on flying. 

Later on, she follows Dr. Dillamond to his home on campus, where he is holding a secret meeting with other Animals who are distressed about the situation in Oz. She has another vision, one that sees Dr. Dillamond in a cage, and she becomes unsettled by it. Dr. Dillamond explains that she should not repeat what she saw or heard there that night, and soon, she has a new wish form in her heart.

Elphaba is portrayed as a compassionate and passionate figure in this iteration. She balances the quiet subtleness of someone told to keep quiet and to make their presence smaller their entire lives, left to wither while others around her shone. It is here in Shiz where she starts to come into herself, finding her voice and learning about the powers she has within. 

Stay tuned for Part 2, where we discuss how Fiyero’s “Dancing Through Life” ties into his later fate, the significance of the “Ozdust Duet”, how Elphaba becomes “Popular” with Galinda’s help, and how something new and foreign stirs in Elphaba’s heart though she’s “Not That Girl.”

Thank you for taking this deep dive with me, and as always, thank you for joining us here at Myths & Mischief!